The primary objective is to determine the most effective and/or the least effective treatment of benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus (SE) among patients older than 2 years. There are three active treatment arms being compared: fosphenytoin (FOS),levetiracetam (LEV), and valproic acid (VPA).

The second objective is comparison of three drugs with respect to secondary outcomes.

The final objective is to ensure that the trial is informative for treatment of established SE in children by describing the effectiveness, safety, and rate of adverse reactions of these drugs in children.

Administer 60 mg/Kg levetiracetam intravenously up to a maximum dose of 4500 mg ( 75 Kg) over 10 minutes. Those weighing more than 75 Kg receive a fixed dose of 4500 levetiracetam over 10 minutes.

Drug: Levetiracetam

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

2 Years and older (Child, Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Patient witnessed to seize for greater than 5 minute duration prior to treatment with study drug; Patient received adequate dose of benzodiazepines. The last dose of a benzo was administered in the 5-30 minutes prior to study drug administration. The doses may be divided.; continued or recurring seizure in the Emergency Department; Age 2 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:Known pregnancy; Prisoner; Opt-out identification; Treatment with a second line anticonvulsant (FOS, PHT, VPA, LEV, phenobarbital or other agents defined in the MoP) for this episode of SE; Treatment with sedatives with anticonvulsant properties other than benzodiazepines (propofol, etomidate, ketamine or other agents defined in the MoP); Endotracheal intubation; Acute traumatic brain injury; Known metabolic disorder; Known liver disease; Known severe renal impairment; Known allergy or other known contraindication to FOS, PHT, LEV, or VPA; Hypoglycemia < 50 mg/dL; Hyperglycemia > 400 mg/dL; Cardiac arrest and post-anoxic seizures

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01960075